Rosales Is Architect for Leverett Cir. Foot Bridge

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has selected Beacon Hill resident Miguel Rosales as lead architect for the Leverett Circle pedestrian bridge.

Rosales, who designed the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge and has served as lead architect on the rehabilitation of the Longfellow Bridge, among other projects, has been contracted by the state to deliver a 25-percent design for the bridge by the end of 2014.

Rosales said he would update a plan for the crossing that he completed pro bono in 2009 at the request of then-District 8 City Councilor Mike Ross.

The new plan will take into account the nearby Science Park/West End MBTA station, which was reconfigured in 2011 to include new elevators and other modifications, he said.

“It gives me great satisfaction that my original concept is being used for the preliminary design of the new bridge,” Rosales told the Times.

District 8 City Councilor Josh Zakim said construction of the pedestrian bridge is long overdue for the West End neighborhood.

“I hope that MassDOT and all parties involved with the project move forward expeditiously,” Zakim said. “I’m obviously a fan of Miguel’s work on the Zakim Bridge, and excited that the project is moving forward.”

State Rep. Jay Livingstone also expressed satisfaction in knowing that Rosales would conceive the new bridge design.

“I’m pleased that MassDOT has chosen Miguel Rosales and signed a contract to proceed to the 25-percent design,” Livingstone said. “I also look forward to the community providing input so that we end up with the best project possible for the intersection.”

MassDOT spokesman Michael Verseckes told the Times that the new bridge would “touch down” at three points: the Science Park/West End station; near Storrow Drive and Martha Road; and on the westbound side of Storrow Drive to provide access to the Charles River Esplanade.

Verseckes wrote in email to the Times that the construction timeline would depend in part on the ongoing rehabilitation of the Longfellow Bridge. Due to this project, Cambridge-bound vehicles are now detoured from Charles Circle to Leverett Circle and across to Cambridge over the Craigie Bridge/Charles River Dam Road. Construction of the pedestrian bridge, Verseckes wrote, could bring about further traffic restrictions in the area.

“If this were the case, MassDOT would give strong consideration to constructing the project after the Longfellow work is completed,” Verseckes wrote. “But as we move through the design process, we will develop a better understanding of what, if any, the space requirements will be for building the pedestrian bridge.”

HDR, Inc., an Omaha, Neb.-based architectural, engineering and consulting firm, will serve as the project contractor.

bigcityguy

I still don’t understand the need for this bridge. I cross that intersection regularly with no issues, and it’s nice to have an open sky and reclaimed land where those huge ramps used to be.